Equal Parental Leave

Why equitable parental leave should be an employer priority

In March 2022, BITC published the Who Cares? report exploring the contemporary experiences of working carers in the UK (44% of the workforce). The report uncovered a discrepancy between the ‘wants and needs’ and reality of those balancing paid work and care, including a disproportionate cost to certain groups, with 60% of women carers and 50% of carers from Black, Asian, Mixed Race or other ethnically diverse backgrounds stating that their caring responsibilities had prevented them from applying for a new job or promotion.
Failing to support working carers is undermining gender equality at work. With childcare being the main responsibility of working carers (72% care for dependent children), offering more equitable parental leave policies should be a priority for employers. Equal parental leave enables all parents to take time out to care when they have children, setting an equal precedent for childcare going forward.